Christmas already? YES! Now is the time to pack your Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift. National collection week is THIS WEEK Nov 14-21, 2011! Bring your finished shoebox gifts to worship this Sunday, Nov 20. The congregation will pray for God to bless the recipients, then the boxes will be delivered to the collection center.

The “Operation Christmas Child” project of Samaritans Purse is a wonderfully effective way to share the good news and love of Jesus with children around the world.

When you give a shoebox, you will designate the age of the child to receive the gift (2-4, 5-9, or 10-14 years old) and whether the gift is for a boy or a girl.

A child will receive the gift box just as you have packed it, along with a booklet written in the child’s language that tells about God’s gift of Jesus.

Samaritans Purse encourages people to place in their shoeboxes pictures, cards, and letters to the children who will receive the gifts. They hear story after story of how the children who receive shoeboxes love the personal connection with the individual or family sending the gift.

Remember to pray for the recipient of your gift. Samaritans Purse suggests that if there are children in your family, you could have the children draw their handprint on a card and write a message saying, “This is my hand. When you place your hand on mine, think about me. I prayed for you to get this box.”

Here are two optional “Coloring Pages” provided by Samaritans Purse that you can download and use to introduce yourself to the child who will receive your gift box. Coloring Pages

Click HERE for detailed instructions in how to pack a shoe box and suggested items to include.

THANK YOU for sharing God’s love with a special child!